‘Forced to fight a war on two fronts’: How healthcare workers say misinformation and messaging worsen the toll COVID takes in Mississippi

September 21, 2020, Mississippi Today, Erica Hensley – Daphne Webster-Quinn says a prayer before every shift to ask for protection for herself and coworkers, and healing for her patients. Donning full personal protective equipment, three days a week she works a primary care clinic on wheels, crisscrossing rural Holmes County to meet patients where they are. As a medical assistant for Mallory Community Health Center, she splits her time between the clinic in Lexington and a mobile unit that dispatches across every corner of the county to offer free COVID-19 tests and primary care check-ups to a community that’s been devastated by coronavirus. The majority-Black county has seen the highest number of cases per capita for most of the pandemic, currently double the rate of the state.

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Mask Use Dropping Rapidly After Mississippi Mandate Ends, Dr. Dobbs Warns

October 6, 2020, Jackson Free Press, Julian Mills and Nick Judin – State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs is sounding the alarm, warning that mask usage is declining in Mississippi immediately after the governor lifted the statewide mask requirement. “Listen to the secret of Sweden’s COVID response,” Dobbs tweeted on Sunday, Oct. 4. “Near universal, voluntary compliance with public health guidance. Please mask up. Discouraging to see mask use dropping off so rapidly after mandate lifted.” View Story.

Coalition calls for Medicaid expansion

October 2, 2020, MPB, Kobee Vance – Members of Southerners for Medicaid Expansion are holding a vigil honoring the more than 200,000 people who have died from the Coronavirus in the US. The coalition believes by not expanding the healthcare program, it has hurt the south’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, especially for essential workers who’s jobs are low pay. Dr. Charlene Collier with the state Department of Health says the coronavirus only made health disparities worse. “One of those being not having health insurance and access to adequate healthcare so even when you’re thinking you’re sick you don’t have a doctor to start your care with, and then once you do finally get coverage, it’s often for something that’s more catastrophic, so not getting that early preventive care,” says Dr. Collier. View Story.